How to Assess the Damage to Your Home after a Flood
Torrential downpours have meant the weather in Panama has been wetter than normal this year. Floods have affected thousands in La Chorrera, Arraiján, Colón and the Caribbean Coast. If you have been affected by this years flooding, you know what a mess it can make. But sometimes, the costs are even higher than you realize. Estimating the full cost means evaluating both the direct and indirect costs of a flood. Direct costs are the items that are directly damaged – Your home, belongings, etc. These are mostly obvious. Indirect costs are expenses incurred because of the flood...
read moreSteps Needed to Prepare for Exterior Home Paint
One of the biggest, fastest Panama remodeling projects you can do is painting your exterior. Painting a house may seem simplistic, even monotonous, and to a certain extent it’s true. You can really only move a paint brush over the same spot so many times before you find yourself ready to quit. This is why many people hire professional painters to get the job done. After all, they get to do all the dirty work, and you get to watch TV. For those of us who don’t have the luxury of hiring someone to take the work load away from us, however, the dreaded exterior painting idea sits long in...
read moreHow to Plan for a Vegetable Garden in a Tropical Climate
I live in Panama. Many of my retiree friends have rented or built there homes here, and one thing you should know is this: Panama on the Pacific side vs. Panama on the Caribbean side vs. Panama in the hill country are three different countries. It’s beautiful here. Last week I visited a tropical jungle homeowner who grows cacao seeds. He makes fabulous chocolate bars and sells them in Bocas Del Toro. As we walked his property, he said, “You know, I tried to grow vegetables here, but there’s no way in the jungle!” He’s wrong. There IS a way to grow a lush vegetable garden, you just...
read moreAchieving Space Efficiency in Panama Commercial Buildings
The Panama commercial construction boom is obvious when you look at the cranes perched all over the city. While the Panama condo building boom has certainly slowed down over the last few years, it has been replaced by new office towers dotting the skyline. This boom has brought increased prices. And that means the Panama businesses that use these commercial buildings need to look at smaller and smaller offices. Businesses are forced to get by with the same job functions and employees as before. But in a much smaller space. Efficiency is at a premium. While at one time, businesses...
read moreIdeas for A Country “Style” Panama Bathroom Renovation
When doing a bathroom remodeling project in your Panama house, there are 2 basic principles: First find a competent, experienced and honest contractor with a good reputation, and second, have a solid, well laid-out design in mind before you begin the bathroom remodeling job. Perhaps you need some ideas for inspiration? If a country style bathroom is what you have in mind, you are in luck. Many of today’s newest trends in Panama bathroom remodeling offer a wide array of country style products with a retro edge. What Defines “Country Style”? Country style is a way of...
read moreHow to Plan a “Country Style” Panama Kitchen Remodeling Project
When deciding how to remodel your Panama kitchen, a country style theme is perfect if you are looking for a classic look that features unique elements of design that you simply will not find anywhere else. Popular kitchen renovation ideas for a country style remodel include the installation of items like wooden cupboards or a farmhouse sink. For those who may be a little scared of this design, there is no reason to worry. You can easily create your own modern country kitchen with any features you would like no matter what type of budget you are working with. While a country style is still...
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